Farming associations blasted President Donald Trump after reports that his administration was drafting an executive order withdrawing the United States from NAFTA—the trade agreement behind billions of dollars in agricultural exports to Canada and Mexico.

"We are shocked and distressed to see news reports," about a possible order withdrawing the U.S. from NAFTA, said Tom Sleight, CEO of the U.S. Grains Council, in a statement April 26. "Before today, we believed we were on track to have a reasonable discussion about how to update the agreement in ways that make sense for all parties."

The possibility of the U.S. ending the North American Free Trade Agreement— triggered a day of high anxiety and a plummet in prices for commodities futures, Quartz media reported. http://bit.ly/2qbKZjM

Later in the day, Trump said he would renegotiate NAFTA with Canada and Mexico rather than end the pact. But not before several associations representing rural agricultural interests expressed dismay and even a sense of betrayal.

The National Corn Growers Association did not mince words.

"Mr. President, America's corn farmers helped elect you," the group said in a statement April. "We cannot disrupt trade with two of our top trade partners and allies. This decision will cost America's farmers and ranchers markets that we will never recover."

"Abandoning NAFTA and going back to pre-NAFTA tariffs would be financially devastating to U.S. pork producers," stated Ken Maschhoff, board president of the National Pork Producers Council. "Tens of thousands of U.S. jobs dependent on those exports would be lost."

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